Machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs



22 1927. March w. CONNER MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE WHITES FROM THEYOLKS OF EGGS 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5,

(7*- Xm Y.

IN VENTOR' March 22 1927.

W. CONNER MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE WHITES FROM THE YQLKS OF EGGS FiledDeb. s. 1921' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR WUUAM (MA ATTO EY w. CONNERMACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE WHITES FROM THE YOLKS F EGGS March 22 1927.1,622,181

Filed Dec. 5. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fi 1 47 13 l I 6 l 4 5 8 8 9 9 {a Ii w I 1 l fi hm'nh'i I g 4.? Q 1!. 43

1 41 |l a 29 2s 33 44 IN VENTOR 22 192 1,622,181 March 7 w. CONNERMACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE WHITES FROM THE YOLKS OF EGGS Filed Dec. 5.1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A7 TO EY- Patented 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT o en.

WILLIAM CONNEB, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE WHITES IRON TEE YOLKS OF EGGS.

Application filed December 3, 1921. Serial No. 519,881.

- The object of my invention is to provide a novel, simple and eflicientmachine for thoroughly and expeditiously separating the whites from theyolks of eggs; and with this object in view the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view bodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view thereof. Figure 3 is a transverse section of themachine on line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a top view of the inclinedtroughs and adjuncts.

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the machine includes two endstandards 2 20 and 4 having parallel bars 5 and 6 secured on the upperends thereof. The bars 5 and 6 are rigidly connected by a bar 7 and twoof a machine empairs of bars 8, 8 and 9, 9 which extend longitudinallyof the machine and are con- ?5 nected to the transverse bars 5 and 6.

The bars 8, 8 are shaped in cross section to form a trough 10 which isinclined, as shown in Figure 1, and which is adapted to receive'thewhites and unbroken yolks :m of eggs; and the bars 9, 9 are sha d incross section to form a receiver 11 or the whites and accidentallybroken yolks of eggs, as will be hereinafter described, the receiver 11is in the form of a trough which is inclined and which extends adjacentand parallel to the trough 10.

The bars 8, 8 and 9, 9, forming the troughs may be formed of polishedmetal or glass or other suitable material through which the whites andyolks of eg s will slide downwardly by gravity aft-er eing depositedinto the upper end portions of the troughs; and the sides of the endportions of the bars 8, 8 and 9, 9 are embraced by parts of the bars 5and 6 and secured thereto by set screws 12.

-T he standard 2 is provided with two spaced, outwardly-extendingbrackets 13, and extending between and secured to these brackets 13 arethe end portions of a shaft 14 which extends transversely of themachine. The shaft 14 carries a cup 15 {which has a block or hearing 16formed on the bottom thereof through which the shaft 14 extends. The cup15 is adapted to receive Ill the contents of an egg shell when theeggthe shaft 14. The cup 15 is movable longitudinally of the shaft 14 tobring its spout into registry with the upper end of either trough 10 or11, in a position above the same, so that the contents of the cup may bedischarged into either trough by tilting the cup after its spout hasbeen brought into :gistry with the trou h which is to receive itscontents, as wi 1 be hereinafter explained. The shaft 14 is providedwith suitable fixed, stop collars 18 between which the bearing block 16of the cup 15 is moved and which limit its movement longitudinally ofthe shaft and ensure the proper registry of the spout 17 with thetroughs 10, and 11.

The cup 15 is held normally in the horizontal position, shown by fulllines in Figure 1, by two helical springs 19 which extend throughopeningsin the block 16 on the respective sides of the shaft 14 inparallel relation thereto, the ends of the springs 19 being secured tothe brackets 13. The hearing block 16 is adapted to slide over thesprings 19 when the cup 15 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 14 andthe springs hold the cup in its normal or horizontal position, andautomatically return it thereto after it has been tilted therefrom andreleased.

One of the brackets 13 has an upwardly extending arm 20 secured theretoand provided with an end portion 21 extending horizontally over'the on15 when its spout is over the trough 10. he end portion 21 of the arm20has a knife like upper edge against which the'eggs may be struck by handto split their shells to permit the contents thereof to be dropped intothe receiving cup 15.

The bottom of the receiver or trough 11 is closed, and the bottom of thetrough 10 has a longitudinal slot 22 therein formed between the bars 8,8. The slot 22 is tapered. growing narrower from the upper end of thetrough 10 toward the lower end thereof, as shown in Figure 2, and thelower end of the slot 22 terminates in a relatively large opening 23which extends vertically through the walls of the trough 10. The

slot 22 is of a widtlr to permit the white of an egg to pass downwardlytherethrough and to prevent the unbroken yolk of an egg from assingtherethrough, and the opening 23 is arge enough to ermit the yolk of anegg to ass downwar ly through the same. The wi th of the slot 22 at thelower end portion thereof may be varied by adjusting the lower end ofthe outer bar 8 toward or from the lower end of the inner bar 8, and forthis purpose I provide a suitable hand operated adjusting screw 24mounted to turn in a bearing 25 on the bar 6 and screwed into a block 26which is slidable on the bar 6 and secured to the trough bar 8.- Whenend of the outer bar 8 toward or from they lower end of the inner bar 8,in accordance with the direction in which the screw 24 is turned,longitudinal movement of the screw 24 being prevented by collar-sthereon engaging the respective sides of the bearing 25. he transversebars 5 and 6 have opposing guideways 27 formed therein to which the endportions of a plate 28 are slidably fitted. The late 28 is adapted to bemoved transversel and it carries three inclined troughs 29, and 31; Thetrough 29 is connected to the plate 28 by brackets 32, the trough 30 isconnected to the trough 29 by brackets 33, and the trough 31 isconnected to the trough 29 by a bracket 34, the whole forming anintegral structure adapted to be moved as a unit when the plate 28 ismoved.

The troughs 30 and 31 are arranged in alinement with and spaced fromeach other, and the trough 29 is arranged adjacent and parallel to thetroughs 30 and 31. When the plate 28 and troughs carried thereby are inthe normal position, as shown in the drawings, the trou h 30 is directlybeneath the slot 22 and the trough 31 is directly beneath the opening23; and the plate 28 is adapted to be moved transversely ofthe machineto move the troughs 30 and 31 from beneath the slot 22 and opening 23and to move the trough 29 to a position beneath the slot 22 and opening23, and I shall now describe the devices for effecting this movement ofthe troughs.

Mounted to turn in bearings 35 on the frame bar 7 is a rockable shaft 36provided with an upwardly extending handle 37 by means of which it maybe rocked by hand. The shaft 36 is also provided with downwardlyextending arms 38 which are connected by links 39 to brackets 40 securedto andprojecting downwardly from the plate 28 near the respective endsthereof, whereby, when the shaft 36 is rocked back and forth. the plate28 and troughs carried thereby will be moved back and forth transverselyof the I machine, Helical springs 41 connect the y of the machine in theguideways 27 lower ends of the arms 38 to screws 42 on the machine frameand tend to move the late 28 and troughs carried thereby away rom theirnormal position to move the troughs 30 and 31 from beneath the slot 22and opening 23, and to move the trough 29 to a position beneath saidslot and o ning. The plate 28 and its troughs are he (1 normally in theposition shown in the drawin s, against the action of the springs 41 bya of the arms 38 engaging ,a hook 44 on the lower end of a reciprocativerod 45 mounted to slide 11 and down in a bearing 46 on the end of theframe bar 5. The book 44 is adapted to be raised into engagement withthe hook 43 by a spring 47 encircling the rod 45 between the bearlng 46and a head 48 on the upper end of the rod. When it is desired to movethe trough 29 to position beneath the slot 22 and opening 23, it ismerely necessary to depress therod 45 by hand, thereby releasing thehook 44 and perlatch device comprising a hook 43 on one mitting thesprings 41 to shift the plate 28 i and its troughs instantly and bringthe trough 29 to the position beneath the slot 22 and opening 23;Thereafter, when it is desired to return the plate 28 and its troughs tothe normal position, the shaft 36 is rocked by means of the handle 37against the action of the springs 41 to move the parts back to normalposition, and the hook 44 is reen 'aged with the hook- 43.

[he trough 30, in its normal position, extends longitudinally of themachine and beneath the slot 22 from beneath the upper end of the trough10, and the trough 30 terminates before reaching the trough 31 or aposition beneath the opening 23, and the trough 30 diverges downwardlyfrom the trough 10 to supportthe white of an egg at progressivelyincreasing distances from the trough 10, as the white of an egg descendsby gravity through the same.

Secured to the bottom of the bars 8 is a cutting device comprising apair of flat blades 49 which lap each other and have opposing, divergingcutting edges 50 adapted to receive the white of an egg between them forsevering the same, as will be hereinafter explained. The blades 49 aresecured to the bottom of the bars 8 by screws 51 extending throughlongitudinal slots 52 in the blades. The slots 52 permit the blades 49to be adjusted toward. and from a position above the lower end of thetrough 30 and to be adjusted to vary the angle of their cutting edges50.

The operation of the machine is as follows: I

The parts rest normally in the positions shown in the drawings, and theperson operating the machine brakes or splits the shell of an eggagainst the blade or arm 21 and the contents of the shell is droppedinto the receiving cup 15 and the broken and emptied shell is throwninto any suitable,

conveniently located receiver. If it appearsupon observation that theyolk within the cup 15 is unbroken, the. cup is tilted by hand to thedot-and-dash line position shown in Figure 1, and the white and the yolkof the egg are thereby discharged from the cup 15 into the upper end ofthe trough 10. The cup 15 is then released, permit-ting the springs 19to return it to its normal, horizontal osition, and the person operatingthe mac line breaks the shell of another egg against the blade anddischarges the white and yolk thereof into the receiving cup 15, and, ifthe yolk is unbroken the cup is again tilted to discharge its contentsinto the upper end of the trough 10, and so on the eggs are successivelybroken, the contents 'of their shells dropped into the receiving cup 15,observed, and discharged into the upper end of the trough 10, so long asthe yolks of the successive eggs are unbroken. When, however, a brokenyolk appears within the cup 15, the cup is shifted on the shaft 14 tobring its spout 17 over the upper end of the trough or receiver 11 andthe contents of the cup or the broken yolk and white of the same egg aredischarged into thetrough 11', and this occurs each time a broken yolkappears within the cup 15.

' The broken yolks and their accompanying whites slide down within thetrough 11 by gravity and are discharged from the lower end thereof intoa suitable receptacle set beneath the same to receive them. The cup 15is cleansed before it receives the contents of another eg shell.

When the w ites and yolks are discharged into the trough 10 they movedownwardly therethrough, and almost immediately upon being received bythe trough 10 the bulk or large portions of the whites descend bygravity down through the wide upper end portion of the slot 22 and arereceived within and supported by the upper end portion of the trough 30with parts of the whites extending through the slot 22 and adhering totheir yolks which remain within the trough because the slot 22 is toonarrow to permit them to pass therethrough. In this condition, thewhites and yolks slide by gravity down toward the lower ends of thetroughs 10 and 30, the yolks supported by the trough 10 and the bulk orlarge body port-ions of the whites supported by the trough 30 atprogressively increasing distances from the yolks, gradually stretchingand thinning the stems of the whites which continue to adhere to theyolks and extend through the slot 22. At or about the time that thebulks or bodies of the whites reach and fallvv from the lower end of thetrough 30, the thin stems extending therefrom to their yolks engage thecutting edges 50 of the blades 49 which sever the stems near theiryolks. This done, the whites fall from the lower end of the trough 30into a suitable re:eptacle placed beneath the same to receive them, andthe yolks fall through the opening 23 from the trough 10 to the trough-31; and as the lower end of the trough 31 yolks, it makes little or nodifference whether a the receptacle for the yolks receives some of thewhites in addition to the yolks, but it is highly desirable thatextremely little or no part of any of the yolks shall reach the trough30 or the receptacle placed beneath the same to receive the whites.Therefore if after a white and its unbroken yolk have been dischargedfrom the receiving cu 15 into the trough 10, the yolk should beaccidentally broken by the quick separation of the white therefrombefore the white reaches the cutting edges 50, or from any other cause,the person operating the machine, Iupon observing the broken yolk withinthe trough 10, will quickly depress the rod 45 and thereby free theplate 28 and permit the springs 41 to shift the plate 28and troughscarried thereby, instantly, to move the troughs 30 and 31 from beneaththe trough 10 and move the trough 29' into a position beneath the trough10, so that the accidentally broken yolk will be received within thetrough 29, through which it will ass by gravity and be discharged into te receptacle for the yolks, the receptacle for the yolks being beneaththe lower end of the trough 29 in all posi tions thereof. As theshifting movement of the troughs 29, 30 and 31 is very slight, the

lower end of the trough 30 always remains over the receptacle for thewhites to insure the discharge of all of the whites into the same.

Should a bad yolk and white of an egg, unfit for use, appear within thereceiving cup 15 the cup is tilted to raise its spout 17 and therebydischarge its contents from its side opposite to its spout and into asuitable receptacle placed beneath the same to receive the discardedeggs. Thereafter the cup 15 is cleansed before it receives the contentsof another egg shell.

Before any whites and yolks are discharged into the troughs 10 and 11the surfaces of all troughs are moistened by wiping them with a wetcloth or sponge to lubricate the same so that the whites and volks willslide freely therethrough, and thereafter the whites and yolks keep thesurfa2es over which the slide supplied with sufficient lubricant romtheir own moisture.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine for se arating the whites fromthe yolks of eggs, t e combination of a trough having a longitudinalslot of gradually lessening width in the bottom thereof, and means forsupporting the trough in an inclined position, said slot being of awidth to permit the passage therethrough of the wh1te of an egg and toprevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg.

2. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslotbeing of a width -to permit the passage therethrough of the white ofan egg and to revent the passage of the unbroken yolk 0 an egg, andmeans beneath said trough to sup port the white of an egg extendingthrough said slot prior to its complete separation from the yolk thelast named means limiting the movement of the white of an egg from saidslot;

3. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslotbeing of a width to permit the passage therethrough of the white ofan egg and to prevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg, and aninclined trough beneath the first named trough to support the'white ofan egg extending through said-slot prior to its complete separation fromthe yolk.

4. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough aving a longitudinal slot in the bottom thereof,means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, said slot beingof a width to permit the passage therethrough of the white of an egg andto prevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg, and an inclinedtrough beneath the first named trough to support the white of an eggextending through said slot PllOI' to its complete separation from theyolk, the second named trough diverging downwardly from the first namedtrough.

5. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of, a trough having a slot in the bottom thereof, and meansbelow said trough and spaced from said slot for severing the white of antween and spaced from the trough and said v support for severing thewhite of an egg extending between them.

7. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of through the slot from a yolk within the IS trou h, andmeans between said trough and the rst named means for severing the whiteof an egg extendin between them.

8. In a machine or separating'the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslot being of a width to permit the passa e therethrough of the whlte ofan egg an to revent the passage of the unbroken yolk 0 an egg, and meansbelow and spaced from said trough for severing the white of an egextending through the slot from a yolk within the trough. r

9. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough having a longitudinal slot of graduallylessening width in the bottom thereof, means for supporting the troughiii-an inclined position, said slot being of a width to permit thepassage therethrough of the white of an egg and to prevent the assage ofthe unbroken yolk of an egg. an means 'below the narrow end portion'ofthe slot forsevering the white-of an egg extending through the slot froma yolk within the trough.

10. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslot being of a width to permit the passage therethrough of the whlte ofan egg and to prevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg, meansbeneath said trough to support the white of an egg extending throughsaid slot prior to its complete separation from the yolk, the last namedmeans limiting the movement of the white of an egg from said slot, andmeans below said trough for severing the'white of an egg extendingthrough the slot from a yolk within the trough.

11. In a machine for separating the whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombination of .a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslot being of a width to permit the passage therethrough of the white ofan egg and to prevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg, aninclined trough beneath the first named trough to support the white ofan egg extending through said slot prior to its complete separation fromthe yolk, and

means below and spaced from said trough.

for severing the white of an egg extending through the slot from a yolkwithin the troug y 12. In a machine for separatin the whites from theolks of eggs, the com ination, of a trough aving a longitudinal slot inthe bottom thereof, means'for supporting the trough in an inclinedposition, said slot being of awidth to permit the passage therethrou hof the white of an egg and to prenamed trough.

' path of the white of an egg 13. In a machine for separating the whitesfrom the yolks or eggs, the comblnation of a trou h having alongitudinal slot in the bottom t ereof, means for supporting the troughin an inclined position, said slot being of a width to permit thepassage therethrough of the white of an egg and to prevent the passageof the unbroken yolk of an egg, and a knife-supported below and spacedfrom the trough and having a cutting ed e in the epending through andbelow the slot from a yolk movin downwardly through the trough.

14. n a machine for separating the whites from the olks of eggs, thecombination of a trough iaving a longitudinal slot in the 'bottom'thereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslot being of a width to permit the passage therethrou h of the white ofan egg and to prevent t e passage 9f the unbroken yolk of an egg. and acutting device below the trough and having diverging cutting edgesadapted to receive between them and sever the white of an egg dependingthrough and below the slot from a yolk moving downwardly through thetrough.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of asupporting frame, means to receive and separate the white and yolk of anegg, a receptacle for receiving the white and -yolk of an egg prior tothe se aration thereof, said receptacle being tilta le from a normalposition to discharge its contents into said means, and means to returnthe receptacle to its normal position after being tilted and released.

16. In a machine of the character de- 1 scribed, the combination of asupporting receivi'n the whites and accidentally broken yolks 0 eggs,Sald receptacle being to discharge its contents into either said meansor sald receiver.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of asupporting frame, means to receive and se arate the white and yolk of anegg, a sha a rece tacle on said shaft for receiving the white and yolkof an egg prior to the separation thereof, and a receiver for receivinthe whites and accidentally broken 01 of eggs, said receptacle beingmovabe longitudlnally of the shaft to positions adjacent to said meansand adjacent to said receiver,

and said receptacle being movable about the a is of the shaft from anormal position to discharge its contents into either said means or saidreceiver.

18. In a machine of the character descrlbed, the combination of asupporting .frame, means to receive and se arate the white and yolk ofan egg, a sha a receptacle on said shaft for receiving the white andyolk of, an egg prior to theseparation thereof, a receiver for receivingthe whites and accidentally broken yolks of eggs, said receptacle beingmovable longitudinally of the shaft to positions adjacent to said meansand adjacent to said receiver, said'receptacle being movable about theaxis of the shaft from a normal position to discharge its contents intoeither said means. or said receiver, and means to return the receptacleto said normal position after being moved therefrom and released.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of asupporting frame, means to receive and se arate the white and yolk of anegg, a sha a receptacle on said shaft for receiving the white and yolkof an egg prior to the separation thereof, .a receiver for receiving thewhites and accidentally broken yolks of eggs, said receptacle beingmovable longitudinally of the shaft to positions adjacent to'said meansand adjacent to said receiver, said rece tacle being movable about theaxis of t e shaft from a normal position to discharge its contents intoeither said'means or said receiver, and a spring holding the receptaclein said normal position and serving as a means to return the receptacleto its normal position after being moved therefrom and released.

' '20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of asupporting movable frame, means to receive and se arate the I to saidmeans and adjacent to said receiver, said receptacle being movableabout.theaxis. of the shaft from a normal -pos.iti'omto-.adis.--; charge itscontents into either :-said;.m.eans. or said receiver, andafspring..hold1.ng ;-the receptacle in said normal. position and .SQI'V.

ing as ameans to return..the-..receptacle toits.

tion of a trough. having a slot inthebottom thereof, and a receiver.for. accidentally. broken yolks movable to a receivingposition.beneaththe slot from. a normalposition away from said receivingposition.

22. In a machine for separatin thewhites from the yolks of eggs, the comination of a trough having a slot in the bottom thereof; a receiver foraccidentally broken yolks movable to areceiving position-beneath theslot from. a normal position awayvfrom. said receiving position, meansto hold thereceiven in the normal position andadaptedto be. operated torelease the same, and means .to. automatically move the receiver to thereceiving. position when released.

23. In a machine for separating the. whites from the yolks of eggs, thecombina-v tion of a trough having a longitudinal slot in the bottomthereof, means for supporting the trough in an inclined position, saidslot being of a width to permit the passagetherev through of the whiteof an egg and .to prevent the passage of the unbroken yolk of an egg,and an inclined receiving trough; for accidentally broken yolks movableto a receiving position. beneath the slot from a. normal position awayfrom said receiving position.

24. In a machine for seperating the whites from the yolks of e a troughaving a; ongitudinal slot in the bottom. thereof, means for, supportingthe trough in an inclined position, said slotbew ingofavwidthhto.permitthe-passa e.- therethrough. .of the. white. of .an. .egg an -pre:

vent .the passage. of. the .unbnoken .yolk, of,

an", egg; an .,in clined receiving, trough for accidentally broken.yolks movable to. ;a reautomaticallymove the receiver to the rea ceivingposition when released- 25. In a. machine. for separating the whitesfrom the yolks of eggs, the c0rnbination of a trough having a slot. inthe bottom thereof, means to return the receptacle to itsnormal positionafter being tilted and released, a sprin tending to move the 1'8? ceiverto the. receiving position, and a latch device adapted to holdthereceiver in the normalposition andto be operated to release the same.

26. Ina safety egg breaking device, the combination, with astand; of ahopperstop fixed. tothetop thereof; a horizontal hopper pivot ,barextending above andin frontof the stop; ahopper open at the front andtop pivoted at-the bottom ,on, a. line in front of its center on thepivot bar.

27. In a safety egg breakingv device, the combination with astand; of ahopper stop fixed to the top thereof; a horizontal hopper pivot barextending above and in front of the stop; a hopper openat the front andtop pivoted at the bottom on a. line in.

front of its center on the pivot bar; and a breaker bar. across thehopper over the stop. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature hereto.

WILIJAM CONNER.

gs, the combination of

